Development of Light Alloys with Excellent Mechanical Properties

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Light alloys, such as aluminum and magnesium, are important engineering materials for the automobile, aircraft, and electronic industries. In recent decades, scientific and technological advancements in the materials modelling, processing and characterisation of light alloys have led to the development of unique microstructure with superb mechanical performance. This is attributed to deeper understanding of the microstructural evolution during processing and the materials behavior under applied mechanical loading. However, future transport and electronic applications require the next generation of light alloys with exceptional strength, ductility, and recyclability in order to meet the demanding needs and improve the resource efficiency. Hence, this opens excellent opportunities to explore new design concepts and perform innovative research into the interplay between microstructure and mechanical properties of light alloys. For this reason, the present Topic “Development of light alloys with excellent mechanical properties” is put forward.

This Topic aims to collect excellent research studies of light alloys from all over the world on topics including but not limited to aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, mechanical properties, microstructure, heat treatment, solidification, deformation, thermomechanical processing, precipitation, phase transformation, SEM, EBSD, FIB, TEM, DSC, X-ray diffraction, mechanical/corrosion /hardness testing, materials modelling, process simulations, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Zhirou Zhang
Prof. Dr. Isaac Chang
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Alloys alloys	-	4.1	2022	24 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Materials materials	3.7	7.0	2008	14.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Metals metals	3.1	5.7	2011	15.3 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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28 pages, 4343 KB  

Open AccessReview

Residual Stress Relief in Metallic Materials: Traditional Methods, Emerging Techniques, and Multi-Field Synergies

by Shushan Hu and Gang Huang

Materials 2026, 19(12), 2431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19122431 - 6 Jun 2026

Viewed by 609

Abstract

Residual stress, an inevitable byproduct of manufacturing processes, significantly compromises the mechanical integrity, formability, and dimensional stability of metallic components. A comprehensive understanding of residual stress evolution and effective mitigation strategies is therefore critical for preventing structural failure. This review systematically examines the [...] Read more.

Residual stress, an inevitable byproduct of manufacturing processes, significantly compromises the mechanical integrity, formability, and dimensional stability of metallic components. A comprehensive understanding of residual stress evolution and effective mitigation strategies is therefore critical for preventing structural failure. This review systematically examines the generation mechanisms, multi-scale classifications, and performance impacts of residual stresses in metallic structures. We critically evaluate the evolution of stress relief technologies, transitioning from traditional thermal and mechanical methods—which often suffer from high energy consumption, environmental concerns, or geometric distortion—to emerging non-thermal single-field techniques such as ultrasonic, magnetic, and electropulsing treatments. Crucially, this paper highlights a paradigm shift toward multi-field coupling strategies. By synergistically integrating thermal, magnetic, and vibrational energies, novel approaches like Combined Magnetic–Vibration (CMVSR), Thermal–Vibration (TVSR), and Thermal–Magnetic (TMSR) stress relief demonstrate superior stress relaxation efficacy while maintaining microstructural stability and minimizing energy expenditures. Ultimately, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap for selecting appropriate mitigation strategies and outlines the future trajectory of eco-friendly, high-efficiency stress relief in advanced manufacturing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Development of Light Alloys with Excellent Mechanical Properties)

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16 pages, 8958 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the High-Temperature Mechanical Property and Failure Analysis of GH2070P Alloy in Boiler Elbow Pipe

by Xisheng Yang, Shaohai Ma, Xu Zhu, Jia He, Ning Bai and Tianyi Zhang

Metals 2026, 16(5), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16050551 - 19 May 2026

Viewed by 583

Abstract

This study investigated the high-temperature (600 °C, 650 °C, 700 °C, 750 °C and 800 °C) mechanical property and failure analysis of GH2070P alloy in boiler elbow pipe. The results show that the microstructures of GH2070P alloy at three typical positions (outer radius [...] Read more.

This study investigated the high-temperature (600 °C, 650 °C, 700 °C, 750 °C and 800 °C) mechanical property and failure analysis of GH2070P alloy in boiler elbow pipe. The results show that the microstructures of GH2070P alloy at three typical positions (outer radius (OR), middle radius (MR) and inner radius (IR)) of the bent pipe exhibit distinct gradient features to some degree, and the unsignificant difference in the morphology and composition of the second phase can be found in OR, MR and IR. Below 700 °C, the mechanical properties at different positions show differences affected by the stress states of different positions. Among them, the tensile strength and yield strength of OR under tensile stress states are lower than those of IR under compressive stress states at the same temperature. However, above 700 °C, the mechanical properties of the three positions show no significant difference, which is related to stress release at high temperatures. From 700 °C to 800 °C, the degree of brittle fracture of the material increases, which is related to the performance degradation caused by the coarsening of the second phase at high temperatures. It is worth noting that within the temperature range of less than 700 °C, the yield strength increases with the rise in temperature, while the tensile strength and plasticity remain at a certain level without decreasing. This indicates that the GH2070P alloy has good service performance at 700 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Development of Light Alloys with Excellent Mechanical Properties)

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19 pages, 7993 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on Aging Strength of Mg–Al–Ca–Mn Alloy

by Mohamed Fouad, Taiki Nakata, Chao Xu, Jing Zuo, Zelin Wu and Lin Geng

Materials 2025, 18(20), 4769; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18204769 - 17 Oct 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1398

Abstract

T6 aging, involving solution treatment and artificial aging, is a widely adopted strengthening method for magnesium alloys due to its proven effectiveness. However, the integration of three or more sequential thermal treatments has been explored only sparingly, primarily due to the challenges associated [...] Read more.

T6 aging, involving solution treatment and artificial aging, is a widely adopted strengthening method for magnesium alloys due to its proven effectiveness. However, the integration of three or more sequential thermal treatments has been explored only sparingly, primarily due to the challenges associated with optimizing such multi-parameter processing systems. This study demonstrates that integrating a 12 h deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) before aging in a Mg–Al–Ca–Mn alloy optimizes mechanical performance, achieving a tensile strength of 343 MPa and 27.3% elongation. Microstructural analysis, based on electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), reveals that the strength enhancement results from ~29 nm precipitate refinement, elevated dislocation density, and nanoscale sub-grain formation, while the ductility gains stem from the activation of non-basal slip systems and the suppression of microcrack propagation. These synergistic mechanisms enable superior strain accommodation, providing a clear framework for DCT-enabled sequential heat treatment design in high-performance magnesium alloys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Development of Light Alloys with Excellent Mechanical Properties)

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13 pages, 8688 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Processing Route on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of an Al-12Si Alloy

by Abdulrahman Alsolami, Adnan Zaman, Fahad Alshabouna, Abdulaziz Kurdi, Ahmed Degnah, Salman Alfihed, Thamer Tabbakh and Animesh Kumar Basak

Materials 2024, 17(19), 4780; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17194780 - 28 Sep 2024

Viewed by 2858

Abstract

Two different microstructures of an Al-12Si (wt. %) alloy were produced, respectively, via a powder laser bed fusion (P-LBF) additive manufacturing and casting. Compared to casting, additive manufacturing of Al-based alloy requires extra care to minimize oxidation tendency. The role of the microstructure [...] Read more.

Two different microstructures of an Al-12Si (wt. %) alloy were produced, respectively, via a powder laser bed fusion (P-LBF) additive manufacturing and casting. Compared to casting, additive manufacturing of Al-based alloy requires extra care to minimize oxidation tendency. The role of the microstructure on the mechanical properties of Al-12Si (wt. %) alloy was investigated by in situ compression of the micro-pillars. The microstructure of additively manufactured specimens exhibited a sub-cellular (~700 nm) nature in the presence of melt-pool arrangements and grain boundaries. On the other hand, the microstructure of the cast alloy contains typical needle-like eutectic structures. This striking difference in microstructure had obvious effects on the plastic flow of the materials under compression. The yield and ultimate compressive strength of the additively manufactured alloy were 23.69–27.94 MPa and 75.43–81.21 MPa, respectively. The cast alloy exhibited similar yield strength (31.46 MPa); however, its ultimate compressive strength (34.95 MPa) was only half that of the additively manufactured alloy. The deformation mechanism, as unrevealed by SEM investigation on the surface as well as on the cross-section of the distorted micro-pillars, confirms the presence of ductile and quasi-ductile facture of the matrix and the Si needle, respectively, in the case of the cast alloy. In contrast, the additively manufactured alloy exhibits predominantly ductile fractures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Development of Light Alloys with Excellent Mechanical Properties)

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15 pages, 9839 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Extrusion Ratio on Mechanical Behavior and Microstructure Evolution of 7003 Aluminum Alloy at High-Speed Impact

by Rui Xing and Pengcheng Guo

Materials 2024, 17(17), 4219; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174219 - 26 Aug 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2650

Abstract

The extrusion ratio (ER) is one of the most important factors affecting the service performance of aluminum profiles. In this study, the influence of ER on the mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution of 7003 aluminum alloy at high-speed impact with strain rates ranging [...] Read more.

The extrusion ratio (ER) is one of the most important factors affecting the service performance of aluminum profiles. In this study, the influence of ER on the mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution of 7003 aluminum alloy at high-speed impact with strain rates ranging from 700 s⁻¹ to 1100 s⁻¹ was investigated. The studied alloy with an ER of 56 formed coarse grain rings during the heat treatment. The microstructure of the alloys with ERs of 20 and 9 is relatively uniform. The results indicate that under high-speed impact, the mechanical response behavior of the 7003-T6 alloy with different ERs is different. For the alloy with an ER of 56, strain hardening is the main mechanism of plastic deformation. In contrast, a flow stress reduction occurs at middle deformation stage for the ones with ERs of 20 and 9 due to concentrated deformation, which is more significant in the alloy with an ER of 20. Under high-speed impact, the alloy with an ER of 56 undergoes uneven plastic deformation due to the presence of coarse grain rings. The deformation is mainly borne by the region of coarse grains near the edge, and the closer to the center, the smaller the deformation. The deformation of the alloys with ERs of 20 and 9 is relatively uniform, but exhibits localized concentrated deformation in the area near the edge. The significant plastic deformation within deformation band causes a local temperature rise, resulting in a slight decrease in flow stress after the peak. These results can provide reliable data support for the application of 7003 aluminum alloy in the vehicle body crash energy absorption structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Development of Light Alloys with Excellent Mechanical Properties)

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